Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was co-authored by Mohiba Tareen, MD. Mohiba Tareen is a board certified Dermatologist and the founder of Tareen Dermatology located in Roseville, Maplewood and Faribault, Minnesota. Dr. Tareen completed medical school at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. While a dermatology resident at Columbia University in New York City, she won the Conrad Stritzler award of the New York Dermatologic Society and was published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Tareen then completed a procedural fellowship which focused on dermatologic surgery, laser, and cosmetic dermatology.
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So that cute girl finally gave you her number by scribbling it on the back of your hand. You're super excited, except you don't want to get home and have your nosy little sister start questioning you about whose digits are on your skin. Or maybe you've been taking notes at school all day and end up with pen ink smeared all over the side of your hand (this is a daily struggle if you're a lefty). Even worse, maybe the kid you're babysitting for got hold of a ballpoint and decided to scribble all over her face. Whatever the reason is, you want that ink wiped out without a trace. Read on to learn different methods for safely removing pen marks from your skin.
Steps
Wash the ink off with soap and water. This is probably the easiest and most accessible solution. If the ink is oil-based, as many ballpoint pens are, you may not have much luck, but if the pen uses water-soluble ink, it should wash off right away.- Water-based inks tend to seep through paper and take longer to dry, so they are more likely to smear and get on your skin.
- Roller ball pens and some gel pens are usually water soluble.
Rub vegetable shortening or butter on the ink. It will be kind of gross and may get messy, but the oils in these products will help dissolve the oil contained in the ink. Dissolving the ink will bring it to a liquid state, and when you clean off the butter or shortening with a dry paper towel, the ink should start to come off.- This same principal means that oils like coconut oil, baby oil, or olive oil will also help dissolve the ink. Pour some oil onto a paper towel and use it to scrub off the ink.
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Squirt non-gel toothpaste onto the ink and rub it into the skin. Toothpaste contains baking soda, which will pull the ink off the surface of your skin.[1] The toothpaste may cause your skin to tingle. Use a damp cloth or water to rinse off.- Look for toothpaste that isn't see-through (or gelled) or sparkly. It should be an opaque paste and will often be white.
- Rub a cooled, used teabag over the pen ink. After making yourself a cup of tea, set the tea bag aside and allow it to come to room temperature. Once cooled, scrub the ink with the tea bag. It should rub off easily.[2]
Squirt hand sanitizer onto the ink and rub in small, circular motions. The alcohol in hand sanitizer will break down and loosen the pen. Wipe the area with a clean cloth and the ink will wipe off with the sanitizer.
Wet a cotton ball or washcloth with isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol or surgical spirit) and scrub the ink off your skin. Rubbing alcohol is often your best bet for removing the oil-based ink found in most pens. It dissolves oils, allowing you to wipe the ink off your skin. Many other cleaning agents use alcohol as the main solvent, so using it straight should give you the best results.- Try not to use the rubbing alcohol in a small, confined space, as the smell is very strong.[5]
- Isopropyl alcohol and its fumes are extremely flammable, so don't use it around an open flame or heat source.[6]
- The alcohol will also remove your body's natural oils along with the pen, so you should moisturize after rubbing it on your skin.
- Spray the pen marks with hairspray and wipe them off with a clean towel. If you don't have rubbing alcohol on hand, look for an alcohol-based hairspray instead. The alcohol will break down the ink. Depending on the concentration of alcohol used in the hairspray, it may take a few applications to remove the ink.[7]
- The hairspray will leave behind a sticky residue, so once the ink has been removed, rinse your skin with soap and water.[8]
- Hairspray is highly flammable, so be careful when you are spraying it. You should never use it anywhere near an open flame.
- Use a cotton-ball soaked with acetone nail polish remover to rub off the ink. The solvent acetone will cause the pen ink to break down and dissolve, similar to rubbing alcohol. It is also highly flammable like alcohol, and the vapors can be toxic in large amounts, so use in a well-ventilated area.
- Acetone can be very harsh on your skin, so use it sparingly and be sure to rinse your arm with soap and water and moisturize afterwards.
- The amount of alcohol in hand sanitizer varies. Look for one that is 60%-90% alcohol.[9]
Spray or wet the area with white vinegar, then use a paper towel to rub away the ink. Vinegar contains the acetic acid,[10] which is an effective solvent that can dissolve oil and many other compounds.- Using a rough paper towel will help exfoliate the skin,and remove layers of dead skin cells that are stained by the ink.
Community Q&A
- QuestionWhy can't I get the ink off with soap and water?
Community AnswerSometimes the ink sticks to your skin, try rubbing shaving cream on it, then washing it again. - QuestionWhat can I do if I don't have these things?
Community AnswerTry washing it with simple soap and scrubbing your skin with a little bit of pressure while the soap is still on. - QuestionCan I get ink poisoning from drawing on my skin?
Community AnswerYes; however, it is very hard to get it. You'd need massive amounts of ink to contract ink poisoning. Try to stay away from using a Sharpie and don't draw on a cut or open sore on your skin. A small doodle won't hurt though.
Video
Tips
- You can't get ink poisoning from drawing on your skin. Pen ink is not generally considered poisonous, and you should only be concerned if you've swallowed a large amount of ink at once.[11]Thanks
- If any of above don't work or you don't have the materials, a cut lemon rubbed on the ink does the trick. Leave it on for three minutes then wash off with soap and warm water. After this apply hand cream to stop your hands getting dry.Thanks
References
- ↑ http://home.howstuffworks.com/uses-for-baking-soda-clothing-care-ga.htm
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQ1LlDrFkrM
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQ1LlDrFkrM
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQ1LlDrFkrM
- ↑ http://cleanmyspace.com/rubbingalcohol/
- ↑ http://cleanmyspace.com/rubbingalcohol/
- ↑ http://www.stain-removal-101.com/ballpoint-ink-stain-removal.html
- ↑ http://www.stain-removal-101.com/ballpoint-ink-stain-removal.html
- ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3291447/
About This Article
To get pen off of your skin, try wetting a washcloth with rubbing alcohol and rubbing the ink off with it. You can also try using hairspray, acetone nail polish remover, or hand sanitizer. Even white vinegar can work in a pinch. Another option is to rub an oil, like olive oil, baby oil, or coconut oil, over the ink stain and then wipe it away with a paper towel. The oil will dissolve some of the oil in the ink so it’s easier to wipe off. Alternatively, try rubbing some non-gel toothpaste into the stain. Toothpaste contains baking soda, which can help pull the ink out of your skin. Whichever method you use, you may need to try a few times before all of the ink comes off. If you want to learn other ways to remove pen, such as using hand sanitizer or toothpaste, keep reading the article!
Reader Success Stories
"I cut up a pen very stupidly and wound up with ink on my hands. I was in a panic when I remembered my mother telling me about ink poisoning, and I turned to How.com.vn. This was helpful and got my ink off in less than 10 seconds. Thanks, How.com.vn and author!"..." more
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